TECH TALK
Navigating Bill 156 & Animal Welfare Practices Daphne Nuys-Hall, Technical Director, MPO
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ill 156, the Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act, 2020 was passed in legislature earlier this summer. The Bill is intended to protect farm animals, the food supply, farmers and others from risks that are created when trespassers enter places where farm animals are kept or when persons engage in unauthorized interactions with farm animals. Although Bill 156 focuses on preventing the risks to animals, including exposing farm animals to disease and stress and introducing contaminants into the food supply, it brought to the forefront concerns from the public and media about how animals destined for food are handled and cared for from farm through transport to the abattoir. Abattoir owners are committed to ensuring that animals are handled in humane manner. As well, Ontario Meat Regulation 31/05 details specific requirements for the humane handling of animals in provincially licensed abattoirs. These regulations clearly address the responsibilities of the operator of a slaughter
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plant regarding humane treatment of food animals pertaining to the loading or unloading, housing and general handling. Wilful acts of abuse are not acceptable nor tolerated. This article seeks to highlight a few areas to consider to ensure animals are humanely handled throughout the slaughter process. Handling of Animals Along the Slaughter Continuum There are outside factors that impact animal welfare prior to the animals being received at the abattoir, such as primary production and husbandry practices on farms or during the loading and transportation of the animals. As a plant operator you can clearly outline conditions of acceptability of the animals, including good animal welfare handling practices starting with loading of the animals, in addition to the condition and health of the animals to be loaded, unloading and housing of these animals to the farmers and transport operators. Employees responsible for handling animals should be competent, patient, respectful of the animals and knowledgeable about the normal behavior of different species
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BlockTalk - Fall 2020
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